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Hurricanes 8 - 32 Crusaders
Full-time here in Wellington - stay tuned for the match wrap.
80 min: A clinical performance from the Saders and a pretty woeful one from the Hurricanes.
76 min: The Canes have just produced their 34th error - that is far too many against the Crusaders.
71 min: The Crusaders look to slow things down and take the three from the penalty. Kick is good. Hurricanes 8 - 32 Crusaders.
69 min: A penalty to the Canes for a high tackle on Jordie - another thing Beauden has been very average this game - two intercepts and some bad bad passes.
67 min: The Hurricanes win a penalty and will look to get out of their own half.
66 min: The Crusaders have set up shop in the Hurricanes 22 and look to cause more pain to the Cnes.
62 min: A knock on from the Hurricanes and that seems to be the story of the night - a Hurricanes mistake at the wrong time.
58 min: The Hurricanes win a penalty in a great sport - just 10m out.
55 min: Hurricanes win a penalty against the scrum and you would think they need to score here - but the Saders win the ball back through Matt Todd.
55 min: Really good work going forward for the Canes but a knock on ruins any chance of a try.
51 min: TRY - Crusaders, great mini break from Crotty and a cut out pass from Douglas finds Jordan Taufua who sets up Braydon Ennor for the try. Kick is wide. Hurricanes 8 - 29 Crusaders.
49 min: Crusaders win a penalty and the back-to-back champs are on a tear in the capital.
47 min: Chase Tiatia with a great break and gets a grubber away but it's Havili who cleans up.
42 min: TRY - Crusaders. Beauden Barrett throws an intercept to Whetu Douglas who sets the Crusaders up for success early on in the second half - David Havili whacks Ben Lam and scores his second. Kick is good. Hurricanes 8 - 24 Crusaders.
42 min: Matt Todd is back on the park after serving his 10 minute sentence.
41 min: Second half is back underway and the big news is that Kieran Read is off the field and his night is done - ice on his right knee upper leg area.
Half-time.
39 min: Hurricanes win a penalty towards the end of the first half.
35 min: The Crusaders win a penalty and they will take the three - Hurricanes 8 - 17 Crusaders.
28 min: TRY - Hurricanes, on what seems to be his first touch of the game - Ngani Laumape with a huge run for a try. Kick is wide. Hurricanes 8 - 14 Crusaders.
28 min: The Hurricanes win a penalty against the scrum and Matt Todd is sent to the bin for getting in the way of Perenara on the tap. Big chance for the Canes now.
27 min: Riccitelli knocks the ball on and loses all momentum for the hosts.
26 min: Penalty won by the Hurricanes and they kick for touch.
24 min: TRY - Crusaders, another mistake from the Hurricanes - this time it's Chase Tiatia who misjudges a kick and David Havili gathers the ball and goes over untouched. Kick is good. Hurricanes 3 - 14 Crusaders.
23 min: Not to worry Read looks to be okay - fingers crossed, Hurricanes win a scrum.
22 min: Crusaders win a penalty now as Read is attended to by the medics.
20 min: Hurricanes win a penalty and are headed down field.
16 min: TRY - Crusaders, a great kick in behind the Hurricanes back three and Ben Lam makes a mistake and can't gather the ball - Will Jordan is there to collect and scores for the Crusaders. Kick is good. Hurricanes 3 - 7 Crusaders.
15 min: Red scrum in a good spot here - great defence early on.
14 min: Accidental offside called against the Crusaders.
12 min: Forward pass from the Hurricanes breaks down that attack but the men in yellow are looking likely with ball in hand.
11 min: The Hurricanes win the ball back and are quickly inside the Crusaders 22.
9 min: Codie Taylor makes a good break for the Crusaders. On half way now.
6 min: A penalty is won by the Hurricanes and a shot for goal is coming from a long way out. It's good and Jordie Barrett gets the Hurricanes on the board. Hurricanes 3 - 0 Crusaders.
4 min: Another turnover by the Crusaders and the Hurricanes have the ball again.
3 min: Crusaders knock it on and Beauden Barrett leads the attack for the Canes before the Saders win a penalty.
2 min: The Crusaders are on the front foot early and are looking likely to score first.
1 min: we are underway!
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the top of the table clash between the Hurricanes and the Crusaders.
These two sides met in round two this year and it was the red and blacks who won - but the men from the capital will be looking win and take the bragging rights on
TAB Odds: Hurricanes $2.35 Crusaders $1.57
Pre-game chat: Kieran Read returns for Crusaders derby against Hurricanes
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has reshuffled his loose-forward trio to make room for All Blacks captain Kieran Read against the Hurricanes on Friday.
The international number eight will slot straight into his customary position, shifting incumbent Whetu Douglas to the blindside flank and Jordan Taufua to the bench.
The two-time defending champions have responded to their first loss of the Super Rugby season - 20-12 to the Waratahs last Saturday - with arguably their best available line-up for this week's local derby.
Coach Scott Robertson is delighted he finally has the chance to unleash the All Blacks skipper.
"He's excited. he's fully fit, he's had that mental refresher and he has trained really well," Robertson said.
"It means a lot [to have Read back]. He has the experience of playing in big games - he offers us a calm head and he has that ability to help out our captain with his leadership."
Read was expected back two weeks ago but his return was put on hold by All Blacks management. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner is excited to finally hit the park.
"The last few weeks have been about making sure everything is in top nick and getting the all clear from the medical team," Read said.
"It's a pretty big year so you obviously have to take all that into account but right now I am confident I am good to go. I can't wait - I feel like I am in as good a nick as I have been at any point of my career which was the aim this year. That's what the long off-season was all about.
"Now it's time to go out there and get stuck in."
The Douglas-Taufua decision is one area of debate, while Will Jordan's emergence has put the established outside backs on notice.
In Sydney, the Crusaders sorely missed rested All Blacks Scott Barrett and Richie Mo'unga, while international prop Owen Franks was a late scratching from his 150th outing for the side, after injuring his shoulder in training.
He will return to celebrate his milestone in Wellington instead. The Christchurch-based franchise is also without All Blacks props Joe Moody (ankle) and Tim Perry (arm), who continue to recover from early-season injuries.
Hurricanes: 1-Fraser Armstrong, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Ben May, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Liam Mitchell, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Ardie Savea, 8-Reed Prinsep, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Ben Lam, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Matt Proctor, 14-Jordie Barrett, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Chris Eves, 18-Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23-Wes Goosen.
Crusaders: 1-Harry Allan, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Whetu Douglas, 7-Matt Todd, 8-Kieran Read, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-Ryan Crotty, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Braydon Ennor, 15-David Havili
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-George Bower, 18-Michael Alaalatoa, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Jordan Taufua, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Brett Cameron, 23-Will Jordan
